Police have arrested an armed gang suspected of a series of masked raids on shops and bookmakers in London.

Flying Squad officers swooped on four men at two addresses in
Queen’s Park and Hendon and recovered a gun and a carnival-style mask.

The gang are suspected of at least 11 armed robberies on shops
and bookmakers in Ilford, Harrow and in Hertfordshire.

A 26-year-old man was arrested in Queen’s Park and three men
aged 22 were held at a house in Hendon.

Detective Chief Inspector Harry Hennigan, from the Flying
Squad, said: “After a short period of surveillance we were able to identify
those we believe to be involved in carrying out these armed robberies. In
conducting a search at an address in London were able to find a firearm and I
am pleased that this has now been seized and taken off the streets of London.”